Magickal Monday: Your Guide to the Week Ahead - 9/24/12

Well, I think it might be time to take a look at Mr. Romney’s chart. After what is being billed as “Romney’s Hell Week” — now turning into “Hell Ten Days” as I write this — it would be most instructive to check the astrological aspects that are in effect in his natal chart (click here for the chart). As usual, I'll bold my conclusions, so those who are not interested in the astrological details can cut to the chase.

There are a number of astrological approaches one can take to understand and predict current and future events in a person’s life. I mostly use secondary progressions, solar arc directions, and transits to the natal chart. I sit up and pay close attention when more than one of those areas are suggesting essentially the same thing.

Let’s look at what’s been going on in Mr. Romney’s chart over the past couple of weeks and what will happen between now and the election.

We’ll begin at the end of August, with the last Full Moon. Recall that the Full Moon generally is influential over the following two weeks — until the next New Moon. This Full Moon conjuncted Romney’s natal Mars, and in the chart of the Full Moon, Mars is squaring Romney’s Midheaven/IC axis. Mars rules, among other things, conflict, arguments, and impulsiveness. The Midheaven is one’s public presentation, as well as the career. Two days before the attack on the consulate in Benghazi, transiting Mars squared Romney’s Pluto, which co-rules his 6th house of public service, and the day before, his progressed Moon opposed his natal Neptune. Neptune is the dispositor* of his natal Mars, Mercury and the Sun.

Transiting Neptune is currently square Romney’s Ascendant/Descendant axis, widely conjunct his natal Mars, and still square his natal Moon-Jupiter conjunction in Scorpio. His natal Neptune is being opposed/squared by the current Uranus-Pluto square. The New Moon on the 16th coincided with the release of the infamous “47 percent” video. This New Moon was closely opposed his natal Sun, and sesquiquadrate** his natal Venus and Midheaven. Do you see the repeating themes of the Moon, Mars, and Neptune closely tied to Romney’s chart, both by transit and progression?

Let’s not forget Saturn. Saturn usually shows up when there are restrictions, obstacles, and defeats, as well as responsibilities and honors. Transiting Saturn is in Romney’s natal 6th house, already in orb of a square to his natal Saturn — exact just after Election Day — and a wide square to his Midheaven/IC axis. Also, solar arc Saturn is in opposition to the Node/Midheaven midpoint, a configuration that Noel Tyl defines as “being comfortable in the loner’s position”. This would relate to Romney’s refusal to back down on his statements, both about the situation in the Middle East, and the 47% video.

Now, how does this all boil down? Well, you may remember that a couple of weeks ago, when I was discussing Bill Clinton’s chart, I mentioned that Mars and Neptune can indicate personal charisma, and certainly there are those who find this candidate charming and somewhat glamorous, with his extreme wealth and privilege. But there are negative manifestations of this combination as well, and they speak of impulsiveness, illusions, fighting through deception, and an over-idealized view of reality. Over-idealization is not necessarily all sweetness and light, particularly when combined with Mars. In Romney’s case, it would seem that he idealizes the power America has on the world stage, perceiving us as somehow invincible and always able to enforce our will on others. Instead of erring on the side of caution in an extremely delicate, dangerous and highly volatile situation for Americans in the Middle East, he suggested that our President, his political rival, sympathized with the people who attacked our Libyan consulate. Nor did he bring any insight or clarity to what he would have done differently. “It’s never too early for the United States government to condemn attacks on Americans, and to defend our values.” he said, but, as Time magazine noted, "His broader policy toward the Libyan conflict, however, has never entirely been clear…"

This is unmistakably Mars with Neptune. Even the whole silliness around the orangy-tan makeup with the defined foundation line and his un-tanned hands reflects the deception of Mars-Neptune, and that conjunction is going to continue in within a 7-degree orb***, right through Election Day, as will the aspect of transiting Neptune to his Ascendant, and the progressed Moon to Neptune. Mr. Romney will be idealized by some, but for the most part, with these aspects, he’s going to have a tough time getting people to see him as honest and straightforward, much less as a statesman.

There are ways of taking aspects like this and consciously turning them to one’s advantage. For instance, he could consciously restrain his impulsive reactions, knowing they are likely to be mis-directed during this time, and make every effort to get the facts straight in any situation. He also might unfurl a broadly spiritual standard to march under, focusing on ideals and values (which could even be done inclusively, without dragging the First Amendment through the mud). That would be playing to the strengths of these aspects, and the ability to figure out how to do this is one of the great values of astrology. But I don’t see that happening in Mr. Romney’s case.

I’ll take a look at President Obama’s chart, as well as the Election Day chart, in the coming weeks, but for now, let’s take a look at what’s on deck for the upcoming week:

The only major aspect on Monday is the Capricorn Moon’s square to Saturn at 5:20 p.m. (all times EDT). It’s a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of day — use it to get your ducks in a row for the rest of the week, which is likely to have some surprises and upheavals. The Moon moves into Aquarius early evening, and Mercury semi-squares the North Node, bringing the focus onto friends, groups, and communication networks.

Tuesday starts with a Mars sesquiquadrate to Uranus early in the a.m. This is the opening move in a series of aspects that will be perfecting over the next two days involving Mars, Venus, and the Moon. If you have natal placements close to 22 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) these transits will particularly affect you, and they will also be triggering the Uranus-Pluto square. I expect some headlines over issues of women’s rights with these aspects.

(A note for more advanced astrology students: the current midpoint of the Uranus-Pluto square is right around 22 degrees Aquarius, and so that is a sensitive, triggering point. Anyone with natal placements there will be feeling the U-P square strongly. The Moon will be conjuncting that point Wednesday, and Thursday’s Venus-Mars square is at 23 degrees Leo-Scorpio)

Later on Tuesday, Mars in Scorpio semi-squares Pluto. This can be a real back-stabber of an aspect, but it also gives a lot of energy that can be directed towards solving problems and creating new structures. Look under the surface of things — a lot will be hidden — and be careful to do no harm. By all means, don’t forget to do whatever daily energetic cleansing and protection techniques you use, and take extra precautions on a physical level as well. Venus sesqui-quadrates Uranus in the evening, challenging relationships and bringing a lot of intensification of emotions. The Moon trines Mercury, then Jupiter late in the evening, a lovely aspect for the writers among you, and good for any kind of emotionally-based communication.

Wednesday, there are three sesquiquadrate (also known as sesqui-square) aspects in the wee hours: Venus to Pluto, Mercury to Neptune, and Moon to Sun. The sesquiquadrate is a dynamic and challenging aspect, and while its effective orb*** is smaller than that of the square (2 degrees or so), it still tends to present with a bit of a punch. Again, I expect these configurations to manifest somehow in the arena of women’s rights, and also around honesty in communication. If you are an artist, this could be a productive, if somewhat frustrating, day.

Wednesday also features a nice, flowing trine between Mercury and Jupiter, excellent for both learning and teaching, and communication in general. It will help to moderate the jumpy, irritable and generally disturbing effects of the Moon semi-squaring Uranus, then Pluto, then opposing Venus, then squaring Mars. WHEW! Ground. Center. Then do it again. This is likely to be an intense day, and we could see fanatical, out-of-bounds behavior, vanity, jealousy, and pursuit of instant gratification. Turning this around to a more harmonious manifestation will involve — besides grounding and centering — creative work and active, physical outlets for the energy. Sports, gardening, and good sex all qualify.

Thursday, the Moon moves into Pisces early in the a.m., then conjuncts Neptune. Not long after, the Venus-Mars square becomes exact. Mid-afternoon, after making a sesquiquadrate to Mercury, the Moon conjuncts Chiron, which is currently sextile Pluto. This points to a tense start to the day, but gives opportunity for some healing later in the afternoon.

Friday, watch out for over-emotional communication and unrestrained, odd behavior, as the Moon squares Jupiter, while the Sun inconjuncts Chiron and moves into orb of opposition to Uranus and square Pluto, exact tomorrow. The weekend’s aspects are pretty intense, so you might want to use the trine of Moon to Mars in the evening to do some magickal work for personal cleansing, protection, divination, and communing with your ancestors, gods and/or other allies.

Saturday, the Sun opposes Uranus early in the morning, then the Moon moves into Aries, and sets up for the Full Moon later in the evening (11:20 p.m.) So the picture is this: Sun oppose Uranus and the Moon, square Pluto, and, of course, the Moon is conjunct Uranus and square Pluto. This is a major trigger for the Uranus-Pluto square, particularly since Full Moons generally affect the following two weeks. Add to that the fact that the Moon-Uranus conjunction is in a stressful aspect (quindecile) to Mercury, and it’s a good guess that communication, travel, learning, and all things Mercury-related are also likely to be subject to upheavals over the next couple of weeks.

By now, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, and following along with your own chart, you’ll have some idea of what areas of your life are being most affected by the Uranus-Pluto square. Pay close attention to how you communicate in those areas of your life, and how your personal perceptions and mindset affect your experiences.

The Moon continues through Aries on Sunday, and it may seem as though everyone wants to do it their way, so it may not be the best day to do anything that requires a lot of cooperation,unless you can tap into some of that Mars in Scorpio energy, and convince people that doing it your way is, in fact, their way, too. Like this:

Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said: “What do you call work?” “Why, ain’t that work?”Tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly:“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain’t. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”“Oh come, now, you don’t mean to let on that you like it?”The brush continued to move.“Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?”That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom swept his brush daintily back and forth – stepped back to note the effect – added a touch here and there – criticised the effect again – Ben watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more absorbed. Presently he said:“Say, Tom, let me whitewash a little.”

Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Until next week!

*Dispositor: The planet that rules the sign another planet is in. For example, if Neptune is in Libra, then Venus is the dispositor of Neptune, because Venus rules the sign of Libra.

**Sesquiquadrate: A 135 degree aspect that is similar to a square in its effect, though not as powerful

***Orb: the distance, in degrees, between planets or planets and points in a chart that is considered to still be within the parameters of a particular aspect. Strong aspects, like the conjunction or square, are generally considered to still be "in orb" with a larger separation that less powerful aspects, like the sextile.

Diotima Mantineia began studying astrology in 1968, taking classes from Zoltan Mason in New York City. For the next 22 years, she practiced astrology only for herself and her friends, continuing her studies while watching an increasingly humanistic, psychologically oriented, modern astrology blossom through the work of leading astrologers such as Noel Tyl, Liz Greene, Rob Hand, Marion March, Stephen Arroyo and Howard Sasportas. In 1986, Diotima began her study of Wicca and started reading Tarot, discovering that she is a gifted intuitive. In 1991, she began practicing both astrology and Tarot professionally. She majored in plant and soil science both in college and grad school, and grows much of her own food and "materia magica" on her land in the mountains of western North Carolina. Diotima’s personal spiritual path is rooted in the Western mystery traditions, the principles of Yoga, and a profound connection with the natural world. Wicca gives structure to her spiritual journey, and she utilizes shamanic practices for healing and to live in harmony with Nature. Over 15 years of studying Chinese martial arts has given her a deep appreciation of Taoist thought which has strongly influenced her magical and personal philosophy. You can find her at www.uraniaswell.com